Iglesias on trade rumors: 'I want to stay here'

ST. LOUIS -- With a club-friendly contract and another strong season in progress, Reds closer Raisel Iglesias has the potential to be in demand in the final two-plus weeks before the Trade Deadline. Iglesias understands this and how the business works but has decided to tune it out.

"I'm not paying attention at all to that," Iglesias said on Saturday via translator Julio Morillo. "I want to stay here. I don't want to go anywhere else, but I don't control that. If I could control it, I would stay here and play here for all of my career."

ST. LOUIS -- With a club-friendly contract and another strong season in progress, Reds closer Raisel Iglesias has the potential to be in demand in the final two-plus weeks before the Trade Deadline. Iglesias understands this and how the business works but has decided to tune it out.

"I'm not paying attention at all to that," Iglesias said on Saturday via translator Julio Morillo. "I want to stay here. I don't want to go anywhere else, but I don't control that. If I could control it, I would stay here and play here for all of my career."

Iglesias, 28, signed a seven-year, $27 million contract with a $5 million bonus to join the Reds out of Cuba in 2014. Although signed through 2020, he's under club control through the '21 season. After this season, he's due $11.4 million over the next two years.

Entering the day, Iglesias has a 2.41 ERA in 38 games with 19 saves in 22 chances. He had 28 saves during his first full year as a closer in 2017 after being converted from starting pitcher to reliever in '16.

Multiple teams are in need of bullpen and/or closer help, including the Yankees and Red Sox. No contender may need a closer more than the Astros, who sent Ken Giles to Triple-A on Thursday. It's believed that Houston's front office also thinks very highly of Iglesias.

It may not be something he can control, but Iglesias thinks very highly of the Reds.

"I've been here for like five years," Iglesias said. "I've been through this rebuilding process, and I feel like we're getting closer. I would like to be part of this team when we become a really good team, a competitive team. I feel it would be cool for me to see that we're capable of doing more."

Bailey strikes out 10 for LouisvilleIn the sixth game of his rehab assignment for Triple-A Louisville and his fifth start, Homer Bailey pitched six innings with four earned runs, seven hits and three walks but struck out 10 batters. Bailey threw 100 pitches with 65 strikes.

"He said he got better as he went along and that he really threw better than the numbers indicated," Riggleman said. "Not many balls were hit hard. The 10 strikeouts are really encouraging, because whatever he is using for his put-away pitch is there to get the strikeouts. We weren't really seeing that here. That number kind of sticks out."

Bailey, who went on the disabled list June 2 with right knee inflammation, is expected to make one more rehab start then return to the Reds' rotation. The club tried to use Bailey as a reliever once in Louisville and, despite a successful two-inning appearance, scrapped the idea.

Second-half rotationComing out of the All-Star break on July 20 vs. the Pirates, the Reds have set their first three starters for their rotation. Tyler Mahle will open on Friday, followed by Anthony DeSclafani and Matt Harvey.

"We're probably not going to talk too much further than that," Riggleman said.

The tentative plan is for Luis Castillo and Sal Romano to comprise the final two spots. But of course, a lot depends on Bailey. If he gets through his last rehab game without issues, he would also be slotted into a spot.

"Danny Darwin, myself, Ted [Power], Dick [Williams] and Nick [Krall] will have a little meeting and finalize those last couple of slots -- who's going to pitch when from that point," Riggleman said.